[Hou^E  Bii^,  No.   1:6] 

HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES— November  8,  I.M64.— Read 
first  and  second  tiuic^,  and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Military 
Affiirs. 

[By  Mr.  Milks  ] 


A.    i3TLL 

To  be  entitled  An  Act  to  authorize  the  consolidation  of  companies, 
battalions   and  regiments. 

1  The  Congress  of  the  Gmfederaie  States  of  America  do  mad.  That 

2  whenever  any  companies,  battalions  or  regiments  in  service  shall 

3  have  been  so  far  reduced  in  numbers  as  to  make  it  necessary,  in  the 

4  opinion  of  the  general  commanding  the  department,  or  the  separate 

5  army  in  the  field,  in  which  such  companies,  battalions  or  regiments 

6  arc  serving,  to  consolidate  them,  the  said  general,  w  itli  the  appro- 

7  val  of  the  Secretary  of  W.ir,  is  hereby  authorised  to  consolidate 

8  them,  under  such  rules  and  regulations  as  the  Secretary  of  War 

9  may  prescribe  :   Proi-tHrd.  That    no   su^h   coi.solidation    shall  be 
U)  made  until  it  shall  <-Ie;irl^  appear  to  the  satisfartion  of  the  Sec- 

11  retary  of  War   that  such    companies,   baitalions   and    regiments 

12  cannot  be  sufiicier.tly    recruited  within  a  reasonable  time  by  the 

13  assignment  of  con&cripts   or   otherwise  ;     A»il  pmrUM.  further, 

14  That  only  troop-*  from  the  same  State   shall    be  consolidated  to- 

15  gethcr. 


2 

1  Sec.  2.   Be  itfurthtr  enacted.  That  whenever  the  consolidation 

2  of  coiupanies,  battalions   ami    logiinonis   sliall   have  been  dcter- 

5  mined  upon,  in  accordance  with  the  prov  i-ions  of  the  preceding 
4  Hcctiou,  the  general  comuiainling  the 'I  pmi  lujciit,  or  the  separate 
o  arm}'  in  which  such  reduced  organi/.atit'ns  are  serving,  shall  cause 

6  boards  of  examination  to  be  held  in  the  ?:iiue  manner  as  they  are 

7  noAV  held,  for  examining  into  the  litnci-t;  of  officers  for  promotion, 

8  which  hoards  shall  proceed  to  cu(juire  i:itu  the  relative  qualifica- 

9  tions,  claims  and  fitness  of  all  the  otKcern  of  the  several  organi- 

10  zations  which  it  is  proposed  to  conr.ulidure  together,  and  shall  se- 

11  lect  such  officers  for  the  command  of  the  new  organizations,  re- 

12  suiting  from   the  consolidation  of  the  old,  as  may  seem  to  tliera 

13  most  fit  for  such  cjommands,  which  officeis  shall  forthwith  assume 

14  the  respective  commands  to  which   they  may  be  assigned  by  the 

15  general  commanding  the  department  or  separate  army  to  Vt'hich 

16  they  belong,  subject  to  the  subsequent  approval  of  the  President : 

17  Proiid(d,  That  the  relative  rank  of  the  officers  so  assigned  shall 

18  not  be  disturbed  :  And  provided  fmiher,  That  the  officers  of  the 

19  old  organizations,  over  and  above  the  number  requisite  for  the 

20  new,  shall  be  entitled  to   retain   their  rank  and  commissions,  if 

21  pronounced   worthy   and   coiupetoat    by    the    examining    board-* 

22  above  provided,  (said  julgments  to  be  ojiproved   by  the  gcMieral 

23  aurd  Secretary  of  ^ar),  and  may  bo  assigned   to  such  appropriate 

24  duties  as  the  Seferetary  of  War  iz.av  prescribe. 


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